Per capita GHG emissions vs. per capita CO₂ emissions in South Korea
South Korea: Per capita GHG emissions vs. per capita CO₂ emissions was 12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
19th
of 197 countries
All-time high
13.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 2018
All-time low
0.6342 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1950
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Per capita GHG emissions vs. per capita CO₂ emissions in South Korea, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person.
Analysis
In 2024, per capita ghg emissions vs. per capita co₂ emissions in South Korea stood at 12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita ghg emissions vs. per capita co₂ emissions in South Korea peaked at 13.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.6342 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 1950.
That places South Korea 19th out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita GHG emissions vs. per capita CO₂ emissions in South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 0.6765 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1851 | 0.6771 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1852 | 0.6776 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1853 | 0.678 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1854 | 0.6784 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1855 | 0.6788 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1856 | 0.6792 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1857 | 0.6796 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1858 | 0.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1859 | 0.6803 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1860 | 0.6807 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1861 | 0.681 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1862 | 0.6814 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1863 | 0.6817 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.682 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.6824 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.6827 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.6831 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.6834 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.6838 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1870 | 0.6843 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1871 | 0.6845 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.6848 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1873 | 0.6853 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1874 | 0.6859 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1875 | 0.6866 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1876 | 0.6872 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1877 | 0.6879 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1878 | 0.6884 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1879 | 0.6889 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 0.6893 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1881 | 0.6899 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1882 | 0.6905 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1883 | 0.6911 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1884 | 0.6917 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1885 | 0.6923 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1886 | 0.6929 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1887 | 0.6934 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1888 | 0.694 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1889 | 0.6946 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1890 | 0.6953 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1891 | 0.696 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1892 | 0.6966 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1893 | 0.6973 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1894 | 0.6979 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1895 | 0.6986 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1896 | 0.6993 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1897 | 0.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1898 | 0.7007 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1899 | 0.7012 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1900 | 0.7015 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.7023 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1902 | 0.703 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1903 | 0.7035 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1904 | 0.704 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1905 | 0.7046 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1906 | 0.7051 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1907 | 0.7056 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1908 | 0.7062 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1909 | 0.7056 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1910 | 0.7025 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1911 | 0.7054 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1912 | 0.7064 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1913 | 0.7055 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1914 | 0.7086 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1915 | 0.7104 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1916 | 0.7119 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1917 | 0.7114 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1918 | 0.7155 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1919 | 0.7174 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1920 | 0.7192 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1921 | 0.722 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1922 | 0.7246 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1923 | 0.7276 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1924 | 0.7302 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1925 | 0.7342 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1926 | 0.7341 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.7338 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.7343 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1929 | 0.7355 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1930 | 0.7357 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.7389 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1932 | 0.7442 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1933 | 0.7502 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1934 | 0.7584 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1935 | 0.7652 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1936 | 0.7694 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1937 | 0.7719 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1938 | 0.7809 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1939 | 0.7892 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1940 | 0.7967 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1941 | 0.8054 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1942 | 0.8112 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1943 | 0.8064 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1944 | 0.8066 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.7467 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.4% |
| 1946 | 0.779 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.3% |
| 1947 | 0.7828 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1948 | 0.8013 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1949 | 0.803 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1950 | 0.6342 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -21.0% |
| 1951 | 0.6623 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.4% |
| 1952 | 0.6701 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1953 | 0.7119 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.2% |
| 1954 | 0.7084 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1955 | 0.7508 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.0% |
| 1956 | 0.7788 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1957 | 0.783 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1958 | 0.7899 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1959 | 0.8649 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.5% |
| 1960 | 0.8967 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1961 | 0.9533 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.3% |
| 1962 | 1.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.6% |
| 1963 | 1.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +12.5% |
| 1964 | 1.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 1.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.2% |
| 1966 | 1.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +12.5% |
| 1967 | 1.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.8% |
| 1968 | 1.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 1.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.7% |
| 1970 | 2.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +22.5% |
| 1971 | 2.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.6% |
| 1972 | 2.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 2.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +17.0% |
| 1974 | 2.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 2.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 3.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.0% |
| 1977 | 3.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.9% |
| 1978 | 3.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.4% |
| 1979 | 4.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +14.4% |
| 1980 | 4.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 4.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 4.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 4.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 4.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.1% |
| 1985 | 4.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 4.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 5.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 5.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.9% |
| 1989 | 5.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 6.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.5% |
| 1991 | 6.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.3% |
| 1992 | 7.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.2% |
| 1993 | 7.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.6% |
| 1994 | 8.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.7% |
| 1995 | 9.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.8% |
| 1996 | 9.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 10.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 8.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -15.2% |
| 1999 | 9.48 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.4% |
| 2000 | 10.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 10.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 10.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 10.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 10.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 10.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 11.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 11.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 11.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 11.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 12.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.7% |
| 2011 | 13.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 13.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 13.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 12.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 12.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 13.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 13.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 13.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 12.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.0% |
| 2021 | 12.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 12.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 12.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 1.8× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 3.3× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 0.6785 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6765 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6803 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.6822 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6807 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6838 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.6864 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6843 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6889 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.692 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6893 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6946 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.6983 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6953 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7012 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.7041 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7015 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7062 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.7095 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7025 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7174 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.7296 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7192 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7355 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.7604 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7357 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7892 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.7939 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7467 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.8112 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.7354 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6342 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.8649 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.8967 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 11.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 12.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 13.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 12.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 16 Turkmenistan 13.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 17 Libya 12.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 18 Taiwan 12.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 20 Luxembourg 10.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 21 Singapore 10.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 22 Iceland 10.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
More climate change data for South Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.1 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7164 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.8996 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate -0.1285 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1214 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.8117 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate -78.08 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita ghg emissions vs. per capita co₂ emissions in South Korea?
- Per capita ghg emissions vs. per capita co₂ emissions in South Korea was 12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita ghg emissions vs. per capita co₂ emissions recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 13.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2018.
- What is the lowest per capita ghg emissions vs. per capita co₂ emissions recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6342 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1950.
- How does South Korea rank for per capita ghg emissions vs. per capita co₂ emissions?
- South Korea ranks 19th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita ghg emissions vs. per capita co₂ emissions rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita GHG emissions vs. per capita CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in tonnes per person of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.